I kicked and twisted and wriggled like an eel until, eventually, I lost all my strength. A last-ditch effort at escape failed and, I flopped, exhausted. I sucked in a last lungful of air, released that with a gasp and cried like I’ve never cried before or since.
Mrs Hamilton carried on, machine-like. The smacks landed hard and fast. I lay still now but the fire raged behind me. My vision was blurred, my brain scrambled, my nose ran and dribble flowed from my mouth. It was excruciatingly painful. I had no idea how four strokes of the cane would feel but at that moment, I could not imagine they would hurt more than the spanking Mrs Hamilton was administering.